John Leroy Heartsman

b. February 9th, 1936 in Houston (Texas)

d. December 27th, 1996 in Sacramento (California)

THE MUSIC CITY STORY

Ace

BAY AREA BLUES BLASTERS vol.1

El Cerrito

1955 - 1964

Multi-instrumentiste doué, Johnny grandit à Oakland où il apprend d'abord le piano et la guitare. Influencé par T-Bone Walker, Lowell Fulson ou "Pee Wee" Crayton, il devient dans les années 50 un guitariste de studio pour de nombreux artistes comme Ray Agee, Jimmy Mac Cracklin, Jimmy Wilson, Al King ou Tiny Powell. Il trouve l'opportunité de graver ses premiers morceaux dès 1955 pour le producteur Ray Dobard et son label Music City. Il s'agit souvent d'instrumentaux situés entre Blues, Jazz et Rock & Roll dans lesquels brille son sens de la mélodie : "Johnny's stomp", "Johnny's house party", "Johnny's thunderbird". Lors de ces enregistrements, il est parfois accompagné de l'orchestre de Bobby Forte. Puis, peu après, il enregistre sporadiquement pour Big Jay ("Sizzling") et Triad ("Besame mucho") mais se concentre son activité de musicien de studio capable de jouer guitare, claviers et flûte.

A gifted multi-instrumentalist, Johnny grew up in Oakland where he first learned piano and guitar. Influenced by T-Bone Walker, Lowell Fulson or "Pee Wee" Crayton, he became in the 1950's a studio guitarist for many artists like Ray Agee, Jimmy Mac Cracklin, Jimmy Wilson, Al King or Tiny Powell. He found the opportunity to record his first songs in 1955 for the producer Ray Dobard and his Music City label. These are often instrumentals located between Blues, Jazz and Rock & Roll in which his sense of melody shines : "Johnny's stomp", "Johnny's house party", "Johnny's thunderbird". During these recordings, he is sometimes accompanied by Bobby Forte's orchestra. Then, shortly after, he records sporadically for Big Jay ("Sizzling") and Triad ("Besame mucho") but concentrates his activity as a studio musician capable of playing guitar, keyboards and flute.

MUSIC OF MY HEART

Jazzman

1976

Toujours actif dans les studios californiens dans les années 60 et 70, Johnny travaille notamment avec Lou Rawls, LaVern Baker et devient même le chef d'orchestre de Joe Simon. Sur ce rare album, il se produit sur une scène de San Francisco avec Janice Lavon (chant) et J.J. Funderburk (batterie). Un concert à dominante Jazz où Johnny montre ses talents de multi-instrumentiste.

Still active in Californian studios in the 60's and 70's, Johnny worked with Lou Rawls, LaVern Baker and even became Joe Simon's bandleader. On this rare album, he performs on a San Francisco stage with Janice Lavon (vocals) and J.J. Funderburk (drums). A jazz-dominated concert where Johnny shows his talents as a multi-instrumentalist.

MUSIC OF MY HEART

Cat 'n Hat

October 1983

I LOVE THE BLUES THEY HURT SO GOOD

Blues Network

October 1987

SACRAMENTO

Crosscut

January 1988

Johnny Heartsman enregistra ce superbe album en Allemagne sous la supervision du producteur Detlev Hoegen (pour le label allemand Crosscut). Un album de blues contemporain dans lequel brillent ses compositions percutantes et inspirées : "Garbage can woman", "Silky Pete", "Worried about my baby", "Crying guitar blues", "It must be love", "Griff". Johnny se montre impérial à la guitare et aux claviers. Derrière lui, on peut entendre Gary Wiggins (saxophone) et Rex Kline (batterie).

Johnny Heartsman recorded this superb album in Germany under the supervision of producer Detlev Hoegen (for the german label Crosscut). A contemporary blues album in which shine his powerful and inspired compositions : "Garbage can woman", "Silky Pete", "Worried about my baby", "Crying guitar blues", "It must be love", "Griff". Johnny is imperial on guitar and keyboards. Behind him, we can hear Gary Wiggins (saxophone) and Rex Kline (drums).

SACRAMENTO BLUES

Sacramento Blues Society

1988

I'D RATHER DRINK MUDDY WATER

Blues Network

October 1989

THE TOUCH

Alligator

1991

Placé sous la supervision du producteur Dick Shurman, Johnny trouve l'opportunité de graver un album pour Alligator. Comme sur "Sacramento", il montre toute l'étendue de ses talents sur des titres comme "Serpent's touch", "Paint my mailbox blue", "Tongue", "Got to find my baby", l'instrumental "Oops", "Heartburn". Un album très consistant parfaitement produit, dans la continuation du précédent "Sacramento", mêlant Blues, Jazz et Funk.

Placed under the supervision of producer Dick Shurman, Johnny finds the opportunity to cut an album for Alligator. As on "Sacramento", he shows the full extent of his talents on titles like "Serpent's touch", "Paint my mailbox blue", "Tongue", "Got to find my baby", the instrumental "Oops", "Heartburn". A very consistent album perfectly produced, in the continuation of the previous one "Sacramento", mixing Blues, Jazz and Funk.

DAMN LET'S JAM

Inak

March - April 1991

Deux morceaux joués en compagnie du groupe allemand Blues Company lors d'un concert : "Move on down the line" et surtout l'instrumental "Comin' home baby".

Two tracks played with the german group Blues Company during a concert : "Move on down the line" and especially the instrumental "Comin' home baby".

STILL SHININ'

Have Mercy

1993

Il s'agit d'un recueil de pistes live capturées en 1993 aux Etats-Unis pour Have Mercy, un label de Sacramento. Bien que le programme soit trop long (de nombreux titres excèdent 8 minutes), on retrouve à certains moments l'inspiration de Johnny Heartsman. Un disque live à conseiller aux fans confirmés de cet artiste singulier.

This is a collection of live tracks captured in 1993 in the United States for Have Mercy, a Sacramento-based label. Although the program is too long (many titles exceed 8 minutes), we finds at times the inspiration of Johnny Heartsman. A live album to recommend to confirmed fans of this unique artist.

MADE IN GERMANY

Inak

June 1993

On trouve ici un concert de Johnny Heartsman avec le groupe Blues Company sur une scène allemande. Comme pour "Still shinin'", la tracklist est trop longue et finit par ennuyer. On trouve néanmoins de bons moments comme "Flute juice". Comme pour l'album précédent, à recommander aux fans confirmés.

Here we find a concert of Johnny Heartsman with the group Blues Company on a german stage. As for "Still shinin'", the tracklist is too long and ends up boring. We nevertheless find good moments like "Flute juice". As for the previous album, to be recommended to confirmed fans.